Weft stop motions for shuttleless looms



v- 1966 v. M. J. ANCET ETAL 3,

WEFT STOP MOTIONS FOR SHUTTLELESS LOOMS Filed Dec. 20, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet l I E A I 2 -l gm??? Nov. 1, 1966 v. M. J. ANCET ETAL 3,

WEFT STOP MOTIONS FOR SHUTTLELESS LOOMS Filed Dec. 20, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,282,303 WEFT STQP MOTIONS FUR SHUTTLELESS LOOMS Victor Marie Joseph Ancet and Marius Fayolle, dit Marcel Fayolle, Lyon, France, assignors to Brelic International Inc, a company of Panama Filed Dec. 20, 1962, Ser. No. 246,264 Claims priority, application France, Jan. 3, 1962, 42,162, Patent 1,309,084 6 Claims. (Cl. 139370) This invention concerns a yveft stop motion for a shuttleless loom.

As is known the weft thread for a shuttleless loom is drawn from a weft supply package located adjacent the loom. In many cases more than one supply package is present in order that weft patterning effects can be obtained, for example, 'by using differently colored wefts drawn in pre-determined sequence from the supply packages.

One method of obtaining weft patterning effects is to provide a weft supply rod adjacent the edge of the shed and arranging for the rod to oscillate thereby to displace an electric contact against the action of a spring when an increase in weft tension occurs due to the drawing of weft through the shedby a weft inserting needle. Such an arrangement is disclosed in our French Patent No. 1,125,586 and in the corresponding U.S. Patent 2,977,996. The arrangement disclosed serves as a detector and in the absence of the increased tension, due to breakage or complete lack of weft or marl-presentation of weft which causes it not to be delivered to the weft inserting needle, serves to stop the loom.

A system is also known and is the subject of our French Patent No. 1,132,916 in which weft from a series of supply packages can be supplied in predetermined sequence to the weft inserter from a series of supply rods all of which are aranged in the same vertical plane and all having a certain freedom of lateral movement. Each of the supply rods are arranged to enable the electric contact to be actuated and thus a control to be exercised over the loom operation.

Experience has shown however that this arrangement has a disadvantage particularly when there are a relatively large number of different weft supplies, for example more than six.

The disadvantage stems from the fact that the tension will gradually increase in the temporarily non-operative wefts due to take-up of the woven fabric. When the pattern effect is achieved by frequent use of all of the wefts, tension build-up in the non-operative wefts will not be excessive. On the other hand, tension build-up in the case of a pattern in which some of the wefts are only infrequently used will be appreciable. It follows therefore that any spring used for control of the electrical switching device must be sufiiciently strong to resist this tension build-up and hence its sensitivity is adversely affected and loom control is consequently adversely affected.

An object of the present invention is to eliminate the above mentioned disadvantage in what is otherwise a useful control device.

According to the present invention there is provided a weft stop motion for a shuttleless loom having a plurality of weft supplies in which a plurality of weft supply rods are provided, one for each weft, the rods each being arranged for rotational movement about their longitudinal axes whereby an electrical switch device common to all of the supply rods and associated therewith can be operated on increase of weft tension due to insertion of a pick thereby to ensure operation of the loom, failure of weft supply to a weft inserting needle and thus absence of an increase in tension serving to stop the loom.

3,282,303 Patented Nov. 1, 1966 ice The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to one practical form thereof and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of part of a needleloom and a weft stop device in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross section on the line 11-11 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a part sectional plan view of FIG. 1 and FIG. 4 is a detail view of part of the device of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings the device consists of a series of rods 1 each provided with an extension 2 provided with an eyelet 3 at their free ends. Each weft 4 passes through an eyelet 3. The extensions 2 are cranked at 5 intermediate their ends.

At the upper end of each rod 1 is a sleeve 11 within which the rods are freely rotatable.

The rods pass into a housing 6, within which the sleeves 11 are located, and are each connected by means of a cable 7a to a control member A. The cables 7a are each contained within a sheath 7. Screw threaded collars 8 are provided, one on each sheath 7, by means of which tension in the cables 7a can be adjusted. The collars 8 are carried by a carrier 'bar 9.

A spring 10 encircles each cable 7a and extends between the end of the rod 1 and the bar 9. The spring 10 serves to cause the cor-responding rod 1 to be lowered when tension in the cable 7a is released. A lowered rod 1 is shown in FIG. 1.

Guide means for the rods 1 consist of a cross bar 12 through which each rod 1 passes and the base of the housing 6, the cross bar '12 and the base of the housing 6 being apertured to receive the rods 1. The cross bar 12 also serves to limit the movement of the rods 1, the collars 11 abutting the rod 12 at the extent of movement of the rods 1.

Each rod 1 is provided with a radially extending arm 13 located in a slideway 14 formed in a plate 15 mounted adjacent the b-ase'of the housing 6. The slideways :14 are increased in width at their lower ends as shown at 16. Adjacent the plate 15 is a slidable bar 17 whose ends pass through flanges formed on the plate 15. Movement of the bar 17 is in a plane parallel to the plane of the plate 15. One end of the bar '17 abuts a spring 18 which tends to push the other end 19 of the bar 17 against an electrical contact 20. Slots 22 are provided in the bar 17 corresponding to the slideways 14 in the plate 15.

The housing 6 is grounded at 24, and the electrical contact 20 is insulated with respect to said housing. Said electrical contact 20 is interposed in series, as in U.S. Patent 2,977,996, in the electrical circuit 25 containing a relay 26. interposed in series in said circuit, also as in U.S. Patent 2,977,996, is another switch 27 which is, however, rotary and comprises two sectors, one of which 28 is conductive while the other 29 is insulating. Said rotary switch is driven in rotation by one of the members of the loom, in synchronism with the functioning of the latter, in such a manner that it closes the circuit between the terminals 30 for the time during which a pick for a weft thread is introduced, whereas it opens the same when the thread is inoperative and at rest.

The electrical circuit 20 is fed via a transformer 31 from the general distributing main, and it controls a makeand-break switch 32 which controls the motor 3-3 that insures the drive of the loom.

In the inoperative .position the bar 17 will normally be positioned with its end -19 in abutment with the contact 20. When a rod 1 is lowered by release of tension in the cable 7a and extension of spring 10 a weft 4 will be positioned to be picked up by a weft inserting needle 23. As the needle 23 draws the weft 4 through the shed its tension will increase and cause the rod 1 to rotate about its longitudinal axis thus rotating the arm 13 in the Wide-r part 16 of the slideway 14. This serves to move the bar 17 against the spring "18 thus breaking the electrical contact at 20 and enabling weaving to proceed.

If for any reason there is no weft supply to the lowered rod 1, there will be no increase in weft tension and the contact 20 will remain closed thus the loom will become inoperative.

FIG. 3 illustrates the conditions in which the contact 29 is open. The rods 1 are arranged to rotate through an angle of approximately 45.

It will be appreciated that as the rod 1 is returned to its starting position the bar 17 will also return to its initial position due to the slideway 14 being narrower in its upper regions and consequently due to the rotation of the rod 1 as it is moved upwardly by pull in the cable 7a.

The springs need only be very light, since they do not directly affect the actual control of the loom and thus the device is sensitive.

The movement of each rod 1 is control-led in identical manner to that above described.

It will be appreciated that the device is sensitive to change in tension of each individual weft and not to the combined tension of all the wefts.

Modifications to the mechanism described above may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

'1. A Weft stop motion device for a shuttleless loom arranged to operate using Weft thread from a plurality of weft supplies, said stop motion device including a plurality of rotatable weft supply rods, one for each weft supply, an electrical switching device common to all of said supply rods, means for operating said switching device by rotation of said supply rods about their longitudinal axes, said weft threads causing said rotation upon increase of tension therein during insertion of a pick, said stop motion device being arranged to stop said shuttleless loom in the absence of an increase in weft tension due to non-operation of said electrical switching device.

2. A weft stop motion device for a shuttleless loom arranged to operate using weft thread from a plurality of weft supplies, a weft inserting needle on said loom arranged to receive weft thread from said supplies in a predetermined sequence to enable weft patterning effects to be achieved, said stop motion device including a plurality of cranked rotatable weft supply rods, one for each weft supply, an electrical switching device common to all of said supply rods, means for moving said supply rods in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of said weft inserting needle, means for operating said switching device by rotation of said supply rods about their longitudinal axes, said weft threads causing said rotation up-on increase of tension therein during insertion of a pick, said stop motion device being arranged to stop said shuttleless loom in the absence of an increase in weft tension due to non-operation of said electrical switching device.

3. A weft stop motion device for a shuttleless loom arranged to operate using a Weft thread from a plurality of weft supplies, a weft inserting needle on said loom arranged to receive weft thread from said supplies in a predetermined sequence to enable weft patterning effects to be achieved, said stop motion device including a housing, a plurality of cranked rotatable weft supply rods, one for each weft supply, located partially Within said housing, support and guide means for said rods in said housing, cable connecting means on said supply rods whereby cables attached to said connecting means may be operated to enable said weft patterning effects to be achieved, resilient means associated with said supply rods and said cables for moving said supply rods in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of said weft inserting needle, means for operating said switching device by rotation of said supply rods about their longitudinal axes, said weft threads causing said rotation upon increase of tension therein during insertion of a pick, said stop motion device being arranged to stop said shuttleless loom in the absence of an increase in weft tension due to non-operation of said electrical switching device.

4. A weft stop motion device for a shuttleless loom arranged to operate using a weft thread from a plurality of weft supplies, a weft inserting needle on said loom arranged to receive weft thread from said supplies in a predetermined sequence to enable Weft patterning effects to be achieved, said stop motion device including a housing, a plurality of cranked rotatable weft supply rods, one for each weft supply, located partially within said housing, a radially extending arm attached to each of said supply rods, a plate located adjacent said supply rods and provided with a slideway for each of said radially extending arms, .an extended width portion in each said slideway to enable said radially extending arms to move in an arc during rotation of said supply rods about their longitudinal axes, a slidable bar adjacent said plate, said bar being provided with slots arranged to receive said radially extending arms, a resilient device loading said bar and against which the bar may be moved during rotation of said supply rods, an electrical switch on said housing arranged to be broken when said bar is moved due to rotation of said supply rods thereby to maintain said loom in operation, cable connecting means on said supply rods whereby cables attached to said connecting means may be operated to enable said weft patterning effects to be achieved, resilient means associated with said supply rods and said cables for moving said supply rods in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of said weft inserting needle, means for operating said switch by rotation of said supply rods about their longitudinal axes, said weft threads causing said rotation upon increase of tension therein during insertion of a pick, said stop motion being arranged to stop said shuttleless loom in the absence of an increase in weft tension due to non-operation of said electrical switching device.

5. A weft stop motion for a shuttleless loom as set forth in claim 4 in which said loom is stopped should said electrical switch be unoperated upon rotation of said supply rods thereby not causing movement of said slidable bar.

6. A weft stop motion for a shuttleless loom as set forth in claim 4 in which said cables are encased in a sheath and said cable connecting means for each said supply rod includes a collar arranged relative to one of said support and guide means for said supply rods to limit movement of said supply rods in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of said weft inserting needle.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,943,012 1/1934 Gabler 139-122 2,202,323 5/1940 Sullivan 139370 2,429,394 10/1947 Clairmont 139-123 3,092,150 6/1963 Birmans et al. 139122 3,129,902 4/1964 Juilla-rd 139370 X 3,158,182 11/1964 Dewas 139-370 FOREIGN PATENTS 443,251 2/1936 Great Britain.

MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner.

RUSSELL C. MADER, DONALD W. PARKER,

Examiners. I. KEE CHI, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A WEFT STOP MOTION DEVICE FOR A SHUTTLELESS LOOM ARRANGED TO OPERATE USING WEFT THREAD FROM A PLURALITY OF WEFT SUPPLIES, SAID STOP MOTION DEVICE INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF ROTATABLE WEFT SUPPLY RODS, ONE FOR EACH WEFT SUPPLY, AN ELECTRICAL SWTICHING DEVICE COMMON TO ALL OF SAID SUPPLY RODS, MEANS FOR OPERATING SAID SWITCHING DEVICE BY ROTATION OF SAID SUPPLY RODS ABOUT THEIR LONGITUDINAL AXES, SAID WEFT THREADS CAUSING SAID ROTATION UPON INCREASE OF TENSION THEREIN DURING INSERTION OF A PICK, SAID STOP MEANS DEVICE BEING ARRANGED TO STOP SAID SHUTTLELESS LOOM IN THE ABSENCE OF AN INCREASE IN WEFT TENSION DUE TO NON-OPERATION OF SAID ELECTRICAL SWITCHING DEVICE. 